Career Learning

Archives
Troy Behrens' previously published columns

Troy Behrens, Ed.D., is executive director of SMU's Hegi Family Career Development Center. He writes "Career Learning" for SMU Parents online.

Acing an Out-of-State Interview

Previous Columns

The Secret Salary

A Little Communication Goes a Long Way

Sundaes, Cookies and One Sharp Ax

Brand You: Feel the Passion

What Employers Want New Graduates to Know

Making a Summer Internship Count

Interview Questions, Part IV: It's Practice Time!

Interview Questions, Part III: Tricks and Other Stumbling Blocks

Interview Questions, Part II: Your Plans and People Skills

Interview Questions, Part I: Do's and Don'ts

Finding a Summer Internship: There's Still Time

Lessons From a Career Fair

Where's the Consistency?

Simple Steps to a Semester Career Plan

Acing an Out-of-State Interview

Anatomy of a December Job Search

Going Global

It takes more than answering a few tough questions.

During the holiday season, it's usually a good idea to consider a long-distance job search. At this time of year, companies interested in bringing in out-of-state talent to diversify their corporate gene pool start planning their recruiting and hiring budgets for spring and summer placements.

Tom Lawler earned an M.B.A. in human resources nearly four years ago. He felt his career was progressing nicely because he was holding down an HR management position, he was teaching business management courses at his local community college, and he was an established free-lance writer – but something was missing. Having transplanted himself to Boston to complete his M.B.A., he found a decent job market and decided to stay. However, this Louisiana native felt a void in his life – a void that has been growing larger since he left the South.

The work-life balance

"After living in the Boston area for nine years, I felt that my career objectives were exceeded, but my personal life needed some attention.... I really missed pursuing the outdoor recreational activities that used to be such a large part of my life," Tom says. "Since my career had completely replaced my adventurous hobbies, I wanted to try to balance the two and make my life whole again. So I decided to try to take my career either down South or out West where some of my family members had relocated."

Having job-hunting savvy, he hopped on the Internet and dug up some job openings from a few of his favorite Sunbelt cities. "The Internet makes it easier to find out-of-state jobs than walking to your corner drugstore for the local Sunday classifieds," says David Gordon, the assistant director of career services for Roosevelt University in Chicago. "And as a result, more job hunters will be considering long-distance opportunities than ever before."

Tip #1: Seek Positions that are Considered Promotions

After a week of surfing the Internet, Tom found two jobs that interested him. They were both lateral moves, so he would not be offered more responsibilities nor would his title change. Yet he was curious and eager to explore his options in hopes of scoring an opportunity to live in the Sunbelt.

"Mistake number one in Tom's case was to think that he could make a cross-country move in a lateral fashion," says Dr. Betty Newlon, an independent career consultant and retired University of Arizona professor from Tucson. "Since he was not informed of the salary range for either of the positions, it would have been in his best interest to assume that they would offer an equal if not lesser compensation."

Dr. Newlon adds that Tom should have researched the jobs' pay ranges and the cost of living indices for both cities before he applied. Unless he was expecting to accept a job that offered a substantial pay cut, or even his same salary at a higher cost of living, he should have declined the opportunities to interview.

Tip #2: Expect Preliminary Electronic Screening

Tom could have used this advice – after applying for two jobs in the Southwestern United States, he was called to interview for both! "I really felt caught off guard," Tom said. "I thought I would try sending in an application to test my market value, but I really didn't think I would be considered a finalist, mainly because of my out-of-state status." Within two days, both companies contacted Tom; they e-mailed him news of a forthcoming electronic interview, whereby the corporations would send preliminary interview questions to his computer.

"Since the dawn of the technological revolution, e-mail, virtual interviewing, and even the phone and fax have made it easier for employers to seriously consider and screen out-of-state candidates," says Tina Van Horn, a human resources manager for Accurate Manufacturing in Chicago. Moreover, Web sites like MySpace and Facebook have made it easy for employers to run a background check on you before they notify you that you are a potential person of interest. Be careful about what you post online – it might be held against you one day!

"When the companies actually came after me within hours of my e-mail interviews, I knew they were serious. The whole situation began to seem out of control because the closest company was over 2,000 miles away and I had no idea what I was getting myself into," Tom says. "Then, from out of the blue, one of the companies offered to fly me to their city – all expenses paid – and I began to feel a lot more comfortable. Nevertheless, it was all happening very quickly."

Very few companies offer out-of-state job hunters that kind of opportunity because of the large numbers of half-hearted interviewees who are merely taking advantage of a free sightseeing tour. "Companies won't pay your way as often nowadays. They test your level of interest and sincerity in the position by leaving the travel expenses up to you," says Lizzie Schloss, assistant director of career services at the University of Arizona.

Tip #3: Arrive at Your Destination City at a Comfortable Time

Tom's all-expenses-paid interview was with a midsized manufacturing facility in San Francisco. Having a background in HR management in industrial and high-tech manufacturing, Tom felt that this particular corporation would provide an opportunity worth investigating. Tom arrived in San Francisco after a five-hour flight which had a misconnection in Kansas City. He landed at 1 a.m. local time and had to report to the interviewer's office in just six short hours!

First, he had to pick up his rent-a-car, find his way to the hotel and check in. "It was a stressful situation to say the least," he says. "It's really difficult to anticipate or prepare for all of the travel accommodations when you have a big job interview on your mind."

He reported having so many problems with his travel arrangements that he was too distracted to focus on his upcoming interview – which, by the way, was scheduled to run for eight hours. "Once they have you out there – especially if they paid for your trip – most companies will arrange your interview to last for an entire day if not more," Ms. Schloss says. "In fact, the employer will schedule meetings with most of the influential people within the organization and will probably require presentations or performance evaluations. By the end of the day, you'll know them as well as they will know you."

Tip # 4: Request a Detailed Itinerary of Your Visit

Tom's interview started with a 7:30 a.m. breakfast meeting. At noon was a luncheon with 15 potential co-workers, and at 5 p.m. a casual dinner and cocktails with his potential immediate supervisor and the vice president of human resources. Somewhere in between, Tom had appointments for site tours, individual and group interviews, and a final panel interview with employees from other departments. When the day was finally over, Tom reported having a "great day" filled with positive meetings, friendly people, and a tour of a pleasant work environment. When he left, he felt the job offer was in the bag.

The next day, before he departed for Boston, he was offered the job. He negotiated for a salary that, after cost of living adjustments, was more than $6,000 less than his current salary. "I couldn't take a cut that large, so I had to turn the offer down," Tom says. "My future supervisor wasn't as friendly during these negotiations as he was the day before, and he couldn't understand how I could pass on an opportunity like this. I worked hard for my company in Boston; I was even up for a promotion soon. In San Francisco, I wasn't gaining anything but warmer weather."

Tip #5: Is It Really Worth Paying Your Own Way?

What about Tom's other interview? His second shot at relocation was in Phoenix. He had to pay his own way this time, and he wasn't sure he wanted to spend $1,000 for a 36-hour visit. Tom remembered hearing many career advisors suggesting that he "shell out the cash if the job is important to you" – even in the worst possible scenario, it's better to "lose" the money on a wholehearted effort than to feel resentful for not even trying. Similar to the San Francisco interview, this opportunity provided a lateral move which would put him near friends, family, and an abundance of outdoor recreation.

Tip #6: Don't Expect the Red Carpet Treatment

When Tom arrived at the interview site in Phoenix, he was kept waiting for a half-hour. His schedule was tight, so he was rushed into and out of 30-minute meetings with people who acted as if he were an afterthought to their busy schedules. In fact, he met with his potential supervisor for only 25 minutes before he was pushed into a group meeting where only three of the seven interviewers showed up.

He wasn't given an opportunity to meet colleagues, didn't meet many people from other departments, and didn't have an opportunity to eat a meal, even though the interviews lasted from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. When the day was finally over, Tom felt slighted because his future supervisor didn't meet with him for a quick wrap-up. No "don't call us" speech, no "thanks for coming out here," not even a "have a nice trip home."

"In fact, my potential future supervisor went home early, so when I came out of my last interview, she was long gone," Tom says. "I was shown the door by an employee from the development office who didn't even know I was interviewing there. I took that as a bad omen, but it was consistent with their less than hospitable manner."

"A major misconception many out-of-state interviewers have is to expect the red carpet treatment," says Jackie Post, a corporate recruiter for Effective Marketing Solutions in Phoenix. "Most of these interviewees are so disappointed when they are not treated 'well' that it often dilutes the strength of their interview presentation."

Tom probably felt slighted because he wasn't certain what to make of his experience, and it sounded like the people he met were difficult to read, Ms. Post adds. "When I interview people from out of state, I look for those who are excited to have an opportunity to be here. One of my biggest pet peeves is the interviewee who talks about bad airline food, flight delays, or the weather back home."

If Tom handled himself well, especially while he thought he was being treated in a rude manner, if he didn't initiate trite conversations about his travels, and if he could handle unexpected situations regardless of his travel-related fatigue, his true character will shine through.

Tip #7: Be Careful What You Apply For, You Just Might Get an Offer

Ironically, Tom was offered the job in Phoenix but turned it down due to a bad first impression and a non-negotiable offer that was $3,000 less than what he would need simply to survive!

Tip #8: Be Prepared to Travel at the Drop of a Dime

George Rovithakus, a taxation accountant from Montréal, was tired of his dead-end job. With no way to climb the corporate ladder, he started job-hunting on the Net. He noticed a Seattle-based accounting firm specializing in international business that was seeking senior tax accountants – and was located near his alma mater.

"Since I had computer skills, an international and multicultural background, and a few years of international taxation experience, they called me as soon as my e-mailed résumé hit their computer terminal," George says. "They said they had made arrangements for me to be in their office in two days. I had to get my passport and visa in order, not to mention do my homework for the interview. It was time-consuming to say the least, so I asked the firm's office manager if he would send me some information about the firm and the local area via overnight mail. Before I knew it I was out the door and on my way back to Seattle."

Having studied and worked in dozens of countries, George was a savvy traveler. He researched and studied for his interview during his long flight, and he was prepared for the meddlesome time change and jet-lag factor. He was confident about the trip, "because the potential of securing a promotion made the entire process worthwhile."

George impressed his fellow accountants so much, they asked him to stay another day for meetings with the firm's partners. Shortly thereafter, George was ironing out negotiations that included relocation expenses from Montréal to Seattle. In retrospect, George says that travel experience, information about the interview site, familiarity with the local area, and a strong reason for wanting to relocate were crucial to his long-distance interview success.

Tip # 9: There's More to Prepare for Than Tough Interviewers

As for the intrepid job hunter Tom, he reports that his search is progressing slowly. He is surprisingly not bitter about his past interviewing mistakes, because they helped him gain experience and clarify some of his personal and career goals.

"I now realize that out-of-state relocations require a tremendous amount of soul searching; your personal and career goals have to be highly focused," Tom says. "In fact, I guess I learned that my earning potential is valued more highly than I thought."

He also learned that even though long-distance interviewing has become more convenient and practical, you can't treat it as you would a local interview, he says. "When you're dealing with long distance relocation, you're dealing with cultural changes, cost-of-living adjustments, and a shake-up of your entire lifestyle. There's nothing convenient about that."

>> Visit the Hegi Family Career Development Center online.